Opposition Golden Party of Zambia (GPZ) President Jackson Silavwe has expressed strong disapproval of the significant number of senior UPND officials and associates of President Hakainde Hichilema who have filed lawsuits against the state and subsequently received compensation.
Mr. Silavwe says he finds this trend appalling, emphasising the irony that these cases are settled and compensated out of court by the Attorney General (AG), resulting in substantial payouts from state funds.
The most recent case involves the Minister of Transport and Logistics Frank Tayali, who reportedly received a substantial amount of “K450, 000” from the state, despite holding a ministerial position within the same government.
Mr. Silavwe pointed out that even individuals facing serious charges, such as President Hichilema’s co-accused lieutenants in the treason case, have allegedly collected “small amounts of K6.4 million” each, according to the Attorney General.
Mr. Silavwe argued that the common objective of both traditional and white-collar plunder is to enable individuals or groups wielding state power to maximise personal benefits from public funds.
He has expressed concern that those receiving payments from the state, along with their supporters, seem to justify these actions even as critical institutions like the cancer disease hospital face shortages of equipment and medicines.
